(1858-60) Token Miller IL-25 Copper Pearson & Dana

Coin Details

Description

Pearson & Dana were dealers in boots and shoes at 184 Lake Street in Chicago. Their copper token is cataloged as Miller Ill-26 (not IL-25 as sometimes cited). Lake Street was the commercial heart of antebellum Chicago, and the boot and shoe trade was one of the largest retail sectors in the rapidly growing city. Chicago's population exploded from 30,000 in 1850 to 112,000 by 1860, creating enormous demand for footwear and other consumer goods that merchants like Pearson & Dana sought to capture. Struck in copper, this token matched the federal large cent in appearance and weight, making it immediately recognizable to the public. Copper remained the dominant planchet choice for merchant tokens throughout the antebellum and Civil War periods. Cataloged as Miller IL-25 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. Surviving specimens in higher grades are scarce, as most tokens saw extensive commercial use before being saved. This token type is part of a broader tradition of private American coinage stretching from colonial times through the Civil War era.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller IL-25.

Cross References

Miller IL-25